George Miller III (born May 17, 1945) is a former U.S. Representative, serving in Congress from 1975-2015. He is a member of the Democratic Party. From 2007 to 2011, Miller served as chairman of the Education and Labor Committee. On January 13, 2014, Miller announced that he will retire from Congress at the end of his current term.[1]

In 1974, incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Ron Dellums decided to run in the newly redrawn 8th district. Miller decided to run for the open seat in California's 7th congressional district. He won the primary with a plurality of 38%.[3] In the general election, he defeated Republican Gary Fernandez 56% to 44%,[4] the lowest winning percentage of his career. He went on to win re-election 18 times, and never won with less than 60% of the vote.[5]

After redistricting, Miller's district was redrawn and renumbered the 11th. He ran against, and defeated, Republican Virginia Fuller in the general election.[6]

In a 2012 campaign ad, Miller said that the main challenge the U.S. faces is the need “to correct the disparities that exist in our country.”[7]

Fuller has spoken of her inspiration to run against Miller: "We are going deeper and deeper into a debt our children will never be able to pay." Democratic primary challenger John Fitzgerald, for his part, said that “people like us” need to run for Congress because D.C. pols are no longer in touch with the world.[8]

According to the National Journal, Miller is one of seven members of the House of Representatives who tie for most liberal.[9]

In 2011-12, Miller sponsored 10 bills (placing him at #40 out of 440 House members), none of which were made into law (ranks 18 of 440). He co-sponsored 199 bills (placing him at #138 out of 440), 4 of which were made Into law (ranks 17 of 440).[10]

During Miller's 1974 campaign, he routinely disclosed his donors and expenses, taking advantage of the Watergate scandal that was still in the minds of voters. This helped get him a seat in the House at the age of 29, becoming one of the Watergate Babies. Miller is one of the three remaining Congressmen elected in the class following the Watergate scandal - the others are Henry Waxman and Rick Nolan - and has spent over half of his life in Congress.[11] One of the 10 most senior members of Congress, Miller has been described as someone who has "proven himself both a liberal lion ...and savvy about working both sides of the aisle.”[12]

With his father being the former chairman of the state Senate Finance Committee and mentor Phillip Burton being an integral part of liberal politics in the 1970s, Miller has been described as the “heir to a tradition of Bay Area working-class politics.” Miller has one of the most liberal voting records in the House, and brings "a zest for political combat." A review of Miller's career states that, although he has been unsuccessful in his pursuit of top party positions, he has "learned a legislator’s virtues of patience, timing, and creativity."[13]

Miller authored a piece arguing for the passage of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which he said would take money from subsidies and invest more in Pell Grant scholarships. He said that, instead of enriching banks with the current loan system, the bill would "invest billions in school modernization, give urgent help to historically black colleges and Hispanic serving institutions, and boost support for the nation’s bedrock local community colleges." Miller said the system was only alive because of lobbyists and he urged the Senate to "send those dollars to students, at no costs to taxpayers."[18] Miller sponsored the Protecting Students from Sexual and Violent Predators Act, a bill that would require school districts receiving federal funds to give all employees criminal background checks.[19] The bill passed the House of Representatives on October 22, 2013.[19]

Port Chicago disaster

Miller has petitioned to clear the names of the sailors of the World War IIPort Chicago disaster in which more than 200 black men were court-martialed and 50 convicted of mutiny for refusing to continue to load ammunition onto warships after a tremendous explosion killed hundreds. For the most part, Miller's efforts failed, and fewer than four of the sailors convicted of mutiny are still alive. However, in 1999, PresidentBill Clinton pardoned Freddie Meeks, one of the 50 mutineers.[20] In addition, Miller wrote the legislation to designate the site of the event as a National Memorial.[21][22]

Indian gambling

Miller was a supporter of Indian gambling. In 2000, as ranking member of the House Resource Committee, Miller inserted an amendment to the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act that took an existing cardroom into federal trust for the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians. The amendment made the land acquisition retroactive to 1987, stating that "[s]uch land shall be deemed to have been held in trust and part of the reservation of the Rancheria prior to October 17, 1988."[23] This allowed the Lyttons to open a casino at the cardroom under the terms of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. Some members of Congress and the gambling industry have called the amendment "underhanded," while other politicians have called the maneuver nothing out of the ordinary.[24]

Miller has been considered Nancy Pelosi's most trusted confidant, with conservative columnist Robert Novak describing him as "her consigliere, always at her side." Pelosi receives advice from Miller as well as protection from potential adversaries in the Democratic Caucus. Miller describes her as the leader he has been waiting for 30 years and supported her when the Democrats lost the majority in 2010, saying that the Obama administration did not defend her or her accomplishments. Pelosi also named Miller chairman of the Democratic Policy Committee, where he had an influential role in preparing the "New Direction" for the 2006 election.[13]

Their friendship has spanned "over 30 years and many plane trips to Washington from their neighboring California districts," with some colleagues saying that they have become so close that they finish each other's sentences. The New York Times reported that "In the concerns of some Democrats — and the I-told-you-so’s of some Republicans — Mr. Miller represents Mrs. Pelosi’s true liberal soul.”[12]

SunPower controversy

It was reported that Miller and his son, George Miller IV, a lobbyist, were involved in the controversy surrounding the U.S. Department of Energy awarding a $1.2 billion loan to the struggling SunPower Corporation.[26] The loan was awarded hours before the DOE program was set to expire. It was reported that by April 2012, the company's stock had fallen nearly 50% since the loan had been awarded. SunPower has paid Miller's son and his lobbying firm US$138,000 to represent them. Miller asserts that he and his son never discusses legislation; his son, however, does boast of political connections in Washington openly.[26]

Conservative critics said that "[t]here is great cause for alarm over political influence contaminating the DOE loan guarantee program.”[27] Liberal sources note speaking with Miller IV on the phone, and reported his statement he does not specifically work on SunPower's account.

Accepting free travel

In January 2012, Miller was cited as one of the members of Congress who had accepted the most free travel the previous year.[28]